Esy Simple Center finder/marker

This a simple center finding marking device. You just turn it sideways and scribe. This one looks bad because it was my first and a prototype, i want to make one that is able to slide bigger somehow. If any of you have made one, i’d like to see it, or if you wish to make one i like to see that too. Thanks for looking.

-- We must protect the forests for those who can't speak, for the trees and animals. ~THE WOODSMAN~

The way to double check the accuracy is to take a board and mark it. then flip the tool and go back over your line. If you have 2 lines, it is NOT right. If the pencil tracks over the existing line you’ve got it.

Woodsman is right though you do need to spend the time to get it measured up right, especially if you will mark things that will need to be flush at the joint. if it is set back like many table aprons are from the leg, then being a little off won’t be notices.

But I am a little off in general ;-)

For cutting mortises, you can do the same thing with two pins on a Router base plate (making sure the bit is centered) then you will cut mortises in the center of the leg all day long.If you wanted to offset the mortice, just clamp a shim to one side of the leg (thickness 2X the distance you want the mortise to move from the center)

This is very similar to a traditional marking device I have used to make round spars from tapered, squared stock. It has two pencils and when all four sides are marked, planing the corners off to the lines will give you a perfect tapered octagon. They are usually made up to fit the size of the job with two spikes in tight holes on the ends and two pencils. The trick is to be firm enough to make a line but not so firm as to break the lead.

Another suggestion to find the center is to drill the pencil hole, mount it to a lathe or even a drill; as it’s turning, mark the dowel holes with a pencil. They will be curved, but measure the center, and drill it. Of course there is still room for error.